The Weeknd Demands "Transparency" From Grammys Following Snub

BY Erika Marie 5.0K Views
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The Weeknd, 2021 Grammys, Nominations, Twitter, Corrupt, Snub
The singer responds to not receiving any nominations as reports state he was snubbed after negotiations to perform at the Grammys became heated.

Just yesterday (November 23), The Weeknd was full of love as he thanked his supporters for enduring with him throughout his career. "Just wanted to thank the fans for committing to this journey with me," he tweeted. "I love you guys so much, none of this is possible without ya’ll seriously. XO." His March release After Hours was hailed as a cinematic and sonic masterpiece that landed the Canadian artist a No. 1 spot on a variety of charts, and although it has been celebrated as one of the biggest albums of the year, The Recording Academy didn't acknowledge The Weeknd's accomplishment at all. He didn't receive any nominations, and it's something that continues to be a Grammy snub that fans are still trying to wrap their heads around.

The Recording Academy's interim CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said that there were only so many spots available for nominees, but that wasn't a good enough excuse for The Weeknd's fans. Finally, the singer responded to the news of being snubbed in a brief tweet. "The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency..." he said.

It's unclear if The Weeknd, who has already won three Grammys, will get the explanation he seeks, but another report suggests that the snub was purposeful. According to TMZ, the singer was asked to perform at both the Grammys and the Super Bowl, but because both events are reportedly in the same week, negotiations with The Recording Academy were intense. It was allegedly agreed that he could do both performances, but because the negotiations became a tad heated, the outlet reports that the Grammys decided to exclude him from the nominations altogether.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.